1897 VFA season

1897 Premiership season
Teams 6
Premiers Port Melbourne
(1st premiership)
← 1896
1898 →

The 1897 Victorian Football Association season was the 21st season of the Australian rules football competition. The premiership was won by the Port Melbourne Football Club, the first premiership in its history.

The 1897 season the VFA's first season as the second-tier senior football competition in Victoria. From 1877 until 1896, the VFA had been the top senior competition in the colony, but at the end of 1896, eight of the association's strongest clubs broke away, establishing the rival Victorian Football League, which immediately assumed the position as the highest level of competition.

Association membership

Through the 1890s, there had been several years of discontent amongst the Association clubs about the disparity between the stronger and weaker senior clubs. This discontent culminated on October 2, 1896, when eight of the thirteen clubs withdrew from the Association and established a rival senior competition, the Victorian Football League. The League clubs were: Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne, South Melbourne and St Kilda – clubs which had amongst them won all twenty of the Association premierships to date.[1] The League became recognised as the highest level of senior competition in the colony of Victoria, and the Association became the second-tier senior competition, a position it has maintained since.

The establishment of the League left only five of the Association's existing senior clubs: Footscray, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond and Williamstown. One junior club, Brunswick, was elevated to senior status to bring the numbers to six. The Argus reported in March that two other junior clubs would be elevated to bring numbers to eight, with Essendon District, Brighton, Hawksburn, Hawthorn or Geelong all cited as potential candidates,[2] but this did not eventuate and the association size remained at six teams until 1899.[3]

Upon its establishment, the League played under some slightly different rules to the Association: for example, the Association teams fielded eighteen players per team while the League continued to field twenty;[3] and, the League introduced a system of finals while the Association premiership continued to be decided on the basis of rostered matches. However, both competitions adopted a new system of scoring which has since become the standard in Australian rules football: the awarding of six points for a goal and one point for a behind, with the result determined on total score instead of on goals;[2] and, a new rule requiring that a ball be kicked more than ten yards for a mark to be claimed, abolishing the so-called "little mark", was adopted with great success in both competitions.[4]

Season results

Round 1

Round 1
Saturday, 1 May Port Melbourne 8.19 (67) def. North Melbourne 2.6 (18) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [5]
Saturday, 1 May Williamstown 3.4 (22) def. by Footscray 4.5 (29) Williamstown Cricket Ground [5]
Saturday, 1 May Richmond 5.8 (38) def. Brunswick 2.3 (15) Melbourne Cricket Ground [5]

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 8 May Port Melbourne 10.12 (72) def. Richmond 3.5 (23) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [6]
Saturday, 8 May Footscray 6.12 (48) def. Brunswick 3.4 (22) Western Reserve [6]
Saturday, 8 May Williamstown 4.6 (30) def. by North Melbourne 4.9 (33) Williamstown Cricket Ground [6]

Round 3

Round 3
Saturday, 15 May Williamstown 2.3 (15) def. by Port Melbourne 4.8 (32) Williamstown Cricket Ground [7]
Saturday, 15 May Richmond 5.10 (40) def. by Footscray 10.13 (73) Richmond City Reserve [7]
Saturday, 15 May Brunswick 3.3 (21) def. North Melbourne 1.10 (16) Park St Reserve [7]

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 22 May Port Melbourne 17.18 (120) def. Brunswick 2.0 (12) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [8]
Saturday, 22 May North Melbourne 8.7 (55) def. by Footscray 9.8 (62) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [8]
Saturday, 22 May Richmond 7.10 (52) drew with Williamstown 8.4 (52) Richmond City Reserve [8]

Round 5

Round 5[9]
Monday, 24 May (morning) Footscray 2.5 (17) def. by Port Melbourne 7.9 (51) Western Reserve [8]
Monday, 24 May (morning) North Melbourne 5.13 (43) def. Richmond 6.6 (42) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [8]
Monday, 24 May (morning) Williamstown 9.16 (70) def. Brunswick 4.2 (26) Williamstown Cricket Ground [8]

Round 6

Round 6
Saturday, 29 May North Melbourne 6.5 (41) def. Port Melbourne 2.5 (17) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [10]
Saturday, 29 May Footscray 2.10 (22) def. Williamstown 0.4 (4) Western Reserve [10]
Saturday, 29 May Brunswick 8.6 (54) def. Richmond 4.15 (39) Park St Reserve [10]

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 5 June Richmond 8.1 (49) def. by Port Melbourne 8.12 (60) Richmond Cricket Ground [11]
Saturday, 5 June North Melbourne 5.8 (38) def. Williamstown 3.5 (23) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [11]
Saturday, 5 June Brunswick 4.2 (26) def. by Footscray 8.8 (56) Park St Reserve [11]

Round 8

Round 8
Saturday, 12 June Port Melbourne 4.10 (34) def. Williamstown 4.5 (29) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [12]
Saturday, 12 June Footscray 8.13 (61) def. Richmond 6.8 (44) Western Reserve [12]
Saturday, 12 June Brunswick 2.9 (21) def. by North Melbourne 8.9 (57) Park St Reserve [12]

Round 9

Round 9 (Charity Round)
Saturday, 19 June North Melbourne 3.12 (30) def. Footscray 2.4 (16) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [13]
Saturday, 19 June Brunswick 1.1 (7) def. by Port Melbourne 6.9 (45) Park St Reserve [13]
Saturday, 19 June Williamstown 8.15 (63) def. Richmond 3.3 (21) Williamstown Cricket Ground [13]

Round 10

Round 10
Saturday, 26 June Port Melbourne 3.11 (29) def. North Melbourne 3.6 (24) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [14]
Saturday, 26 June Brunswick 0.1 (1) def. by Williamstown 6.9 (45) Park St Reserve [14]
Saturday, 26 June Richmond 2.2 (14) def. by North Melbourne 7.8 (50) Richmond Cricket Ground [14]

Round 11

Round 11
Saturday, 3 July North Melbourne 3.10 (28) def. by Port Melbourne 7.4 (46) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [15]
Saturday, 3 July Williamstown 3.5 (23) def. Footscray 2.9 (21) Williamstown Cricket Ground [15]
Saturday, 3 July Brunswick 6.8 (44) def. Richmond 4.8 (32) Park St Reserve [15]

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 10 July Richmond 3.6 (24) def. by Port Melbourne 5.6 (36) Richmond Cricket Ground [16]
Saturday, 10 July North Melbourne 5.2 (32) def. Williamstown 4.7 (31) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [16]
Saturday, 10 July Brunswick 3.8 (26) def. by Footscray 10.13 (73) Park St Reserve [16]

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 17 July Port Melbourne 9.14 (68) def. Williamstown 2.4 (16) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [17]
Saturday, 17 July Footscray 7.17 (59) def. Richmond 0.5 (5) Western Reserve [17]
Saturday, 17 July Brunswick 3.7 (25) def. by North Melbourne 5.7 (37) Park St Reserve [17]

Round 14

Round 14
Saturday, 24 July Brunswick 6.8 (44) def. by Port Melbourne 14.15 (99) Park St Reserve [18]
Saturday, 24 July Footscray 4.4 (28) def. North Melbourne 1.4 (10) Western Reserve [18]
Saturday, 24 July Williamstown 9.15 (69) def. Richmond 5.3 (33) Williamstown Cricket Ground [18]

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 7 August Port Melbourne 1.11 (17) def. Footscray 1.8 (14) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [19]
Saturday, 7 August North Melbourne 9.14 (68) def. Richmond 5.14 (44) East Melbourne Cricket Ground [19]
Saturday, 7 August Williamstown 9.12 (66) def. Brunswick 2.8 (20) Williamstown Cricket Ground [19]

Round 16

Round 16
Saturday, 14 August Port Melbourne 2.11 (23) def. by North Melbourne 4.5 (29) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [20]
Saturday, 14 August Footscray 3.6 (24) def. by Williamstown 3.7 (25) Western Reserve [20]
Saturday, 14 August Richmond 5.21 (51) def. Brunswick 5.4 (34) Richmond Cricket Ground [20]

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 21 August Port Melbourne 13.8 (86) def. Richmond 3.3 (21) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [21]
Saturday, 21 August Williamstown 9.7 (61) def. North Melbourne 2.5 (17) Williamstown Cricket Ground [21]
Saturday, 21 August Footscray 3.10 (28) def. Brunswick 2.8 (20) Western Reserve [21]

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 28 August Williamstown 3.9 (27) def. by Port Melbourne 4.6 (30) Williamstown Cricket Ground [22]
Saturday, 28 August Richmond 5.10 (40) def. by Footscray 9.12 (66) Richmond Cricket Ground [22]
Saturday, 28 August North Melbourne 10.9 (69) def. Brunswick 3.15 (33) Western Reserve [22]

Round 19

Round 19
Saturday, 4 September Port Melbourne 9.17 (71) def. Brunswick 2.6 (18) Port Melbourne Cricket Ground [23]
Saturday, 4 September Footscray 4.6 (30) def. by North Melbourne 7.5 (47) Western Reserve [23]
Saturday, 4 September Richmond 3.11 (29) def. by Williamstown 4.9 (33) Richmond Cricket Ground [23]

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 11 September Footscray 7.12 (54) def. Port Melbourne 3.6 (24) Western Reserve [4]
Saturday, 11 September Richmond 6.8 (44) def. by North Melbourne 6.16 (52) Richmond Cricket Ground [4]
Saturday, 11 September Williamstown 13.15 (93) def. Brunswick 6.7 (43) Williamstown Cricket Ground [4]

Ladder

1897 VFA Ladder
TEAM P W L D PF PA PTS
1 Port Melbourne (P) 20 17 3 0 1080 504 68
2 North Melbourne 20 14 6 0 770 681 56
3 Footscray 20 13 7 0 805 559 52
4 Williamstown 20 10 9 1 795 606 42
5 Brunswick 20 3 17 0 505 1111 12
6 Richmond 20 2 17 1 685 1091 10
Key: P = Played, W = Won, L = Lost, D = Drawn, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, (P) = Premiers, PTS = Premiership points Source[3]

Notable events

Representative games

The Association played one representative match during 1897, against the Ballarat Football Association at the Eastern Oval on 31 July.

Representative Games in 1897
Saturday, 31 July B.F.A. 6.11 (47) def. by V.F.A. 7.8 (50) Eastern Oval [24]

Other notable events

External links

References

  1. ↑ "New Football Association". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 3 October 1896. p. 10.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Observer (12 March 1897). "Next Winter's football". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 6.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Observer (13 September 1897). "Close of the Football Season". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). p. 3.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Markwell (18 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 605.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Markwell (8 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 916.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Markwell (15 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 966–7.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Markwell (22 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 1019–20.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Markwell (29 May 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 1071–2.
  9. ↑ "To-day's matches". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 24 May 1897. p. 6.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Markwell (5 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 1123–4.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Markwell (12 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 1176.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Markwell (19 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 1229.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Markwell (26 June 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 1277–8.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Markwell (3 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 22.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Markwell (10 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 77.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Markwell (17 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 127.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Markwell (24 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 180.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Markwell (31 July 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 231–2.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Markwell (14 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 358.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Markwell (21 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 391.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Markwell (28 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). pp. 443–4.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Markwell (4 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 497.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Markwell (11 September 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 549.
  24. ↑ Markwell (7 August 1897). "Football Notes". The Australasian (Melbourne, VIC). p. 284.
  25. ↑ Fiddian, Marc (2004), The VFA: a history of the Victorian Football Association, 1877–1995, p. 21
  26. ↑ "Football – the Victorian Football League". The Argus (Melbourne, VIC). 13 April 1897. p. 6.